Upfront

Mar2007

Hope Floats

Hope Floats

The Mercy Vision mobile eye team,
part of the Mercy Ships organization,
just wrapped up nine months in the
port of Tema, Ghana, where they
performed more than 1,350 surgical
procedures. The team of volunteer
vision care professionals dealt with
many cases of blindness aboard
their floating hospital, including
their 1,000th patient Abdulai Shitu.
The 70-year-old Shitu, who had
completely lost his vision, was
diagnosed with advanced, blinding
cataracts in both of his eyes. After a
routine surgery, Shitu’s vision was
restored, and he was finally able to
see the face of the grandchild who
he had previously only been able to
hear and touch.
The Mercy Ships organization was
founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon
Stephens. They have performed
more than 2,000,000 services in
more than 50 nations, including
dental and medical treatments,
construction projects and community
assistance. The Mercy Ships is continually
recruiting eyecare professionals.
For more information, visit the
web site at
www.mercyships.org— Lauren Taylor